I let Lady Karina, whose face looks stiff from being nervous, to sit on the sofa as recommended by the Marchioness. I sit beside her in order to cover her.
"Oh my, such wonderful clothing."
"Is it the fashion of the royal capital?"
"Isn't this cloth the green silk of Oyugock dukedom."
Not only the Marchioness, the noble wives who surround her also talk to Lady Karina, but they praise only her accessories, not Lady Karina herself.
I wonder if it's the tacit rule to not refer her by appearance during such time.
While fully displaying her shyness of strangers, Lady Karina replies the wives curtly with, "Yes", or "No", she's catching up with the conversation but not continuing it.
I tried to follow-up as much as I could, but the conversation became to be only with me.
There's no choice but for her to start by making friends of the same age.
"Is Karina-sama going to get married to Chevalier Satou?"
Baroness Larupott who likes stories about adultery and syrupy love stories brought that topic while smiling obscenely.
Since Lady Karina was in trouble without being able to either confirm or deny it, I eluded the talk by saying, "Lady Karina is more suited to someone who is of higher class than someone like me."
The Baroness tried to recommend her 30-year-old fifth son to Lady Karina, but I changed the topic to be about the rumor of relationship between that fifth son and a certain baron's daughter before Lady Karina made a verbal slip.
Although, I feel that Lady Karina wouldn't have responded anyway since she was sending displeased glance at me, but Baroness Larupott still got into the different topic I presented while looking satisfied.
The mood of the place has become slightly strange, so I have the maids to bring in the Shortcakes and Cheese Tarts I've handed them in advance to soften the mood.
The Marchioness's lady attendant whispers something to the Marchioness's ear, and then she looks at me while hiding half of her childish smile behind a folding fan.
--It's probably better for me to prepare myself to look surprised.
I've already known the prepared surprise guest with the marker reflected on my radar, but I won't be able to recompense her hardship if I react plainly.
"It seems the the preparation for the second guest has been completed. Enter."
Zena-san in dress enters the room while being escorted by the Marchioness's lady attendant.
I look surprised while taking care not to be exaggerated about it.
"My my, for Satou-dono who's usually calm to become that flustered."
It seems she was satisfied with my behavior, the Marchioness offhandedly muttered, "This one is really the favorite after all".
◇
After finishing the worrisome tea party and dinner, I escorted Zena-san back to her lodging, and Lady Karina to the detached building of the mansion.
I was somehow able to finish without displeasing the Marchioness community, but since my reaction should have been weak toward their effort to make fun of me, they probably won't invite these two girls again in the future.
The only fruit of all this is the fact that the two held conversations about hero story.
Lady Karina who was shy of strangers became talkative when it was about hero story although it was kind of unusual to be a topic between ladies.
They shouldn't be enough to be called 'friends' to each other, but at the very least they should be 'acquaintances' now.
If possible I wish Zena-san will become Lady Karina's girl friend.
Unexpectedly enough, I feel that she can get along well with Princess Mitia if the the topic about hero is brought up.